CAMDEN, N.J. (Oct. 9, 2013) – Senior midfielder Mitch Grotti (Milmay, NJ/Millville) scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick early in the first overtime, tying the Rutgers University-Camden career point record in the process, as the Scarlet Raptors edged Richard Stockton College, 2-1, in a wild New Jersey Athletic Conference men’s soccer game here Wednesday night.

Rutgers-Camden, which is ranked No. 2 nationally in the NSCAA poll and No. 3 in the D3soccer.com Top 25, improves to 12-0-1 overall and 4-0-1 in the NJAC, extending its two-year undefeated string to 25 games (21-0-4). The 25 consecutive games without a loss ties for 17th place on the all-time NCAA Division III list with Plattsburgh State, which accomplished the feat during the 1991-92 seasons.

Richard Stockton falls to 8-3-2 overall and continues to lead the NJAC with a 5-1 record for 15 points, two ahead of the Scarlet Raptors. The Ospreys lead the all-time series, 23-15-6, but the Scarlet Raptors have gone 2-0-1 in the last three games.

In a hard-fought battle between the two NJAC rivals that featured 27 fouls, four yellow cards and one red card, the Scarlet Raptors played the final 12:45 of regulation and all of overtime a man down after receiving the red card. In that span, the Ospreys, fighting to tie the game, finally broke through with the equalizer with 7:57 remaining when senior forward/midfielder Pat Rafferty (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) chipped the ball into the left side of the net from inside the box for his fourth goal of the season. He was assisted by senior midfielder Anthony Fiorletti (Freehold Township, NJ/Freehold Township).

After being on the defensive for a good part of the second half, however, the Scarlet Raptors came out on the attack in the first overtime, collecting two quick shots before sophomore forward Mike Ryan (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) was taken down in the box, setting up Grotti’s penalty kick. The Raptor senior converted his fourth PK in as many attempts this season to put a sudden end to the game only 2:38 into the first overtime. The goal increased his career point total to 110 (45 goals, 20 assists), tying Mike Zeno (1992-95) for first place on the all-time program charts.

The shot extended the Scarlet Raptors’ home winning streak to 14 games, dating back to last season.

After the two teams went scoreless for most of the opening half, Rutgers-Camden broke the ice when midfielders Stevan Austino (Buena, NJ/Buena Regional) and Eric Cutry (Medford Lakes, NJ/Shawnee) combined for a pretty goal at 41:49. Austino, breaking down the middle, chipped the ball past the Stockton defense to spring Cutry in the box. Cutry, who played a stellar all-around game, finished with a chip to the top right over Stockton sophomore goalie Bob Millar (Cream Ridge, NJ/Allentown).

The Ospreys finished with a 15-14 edge in shots, including 15-11 in regulation, while the Scarlet Raptors held a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Millar finished with four saves for Stockton. Raptor senior goalie Mike Randall (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) notched eight saves, including five during a busy second half.

The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday when they host Montclair State University in a 2:30 p.m. NJAC Homecoming Day game. Stockton entertains Penn State-Abington the same day in a 1 p.m. non-conference game.

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